Open House Saturday at Sheridan Fire Station

Sheridan Fire-Rescue will host an open house this Saturday. (Photo by Ron Richter)

The Sheridan Fire-Rescue Department is hosting its annual open house for National Fire Prevention Week on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the fire station. From fire truck rides, tours of the fire station, a challenge course for Junior Firefighters to an open air barbecue, there will be something for everyone.

Sheridan Fire Marshal Brian Songer explains what people can expect to see at the open house.

Fire crews will begin a home fire sprinkler demonstration at 1:30 p.m., where two buildings constructed specifically for the demonstration will experience a fire. One of the buildings has a residential fire sprinkler head installed, while the other building does not. After fire crews ignite a fire in each building to demonstrate how quickly a fire can spread in a common living room, spectators will see how effectively just one automatic sprinkler head can be at extinguishing a blaze. The crews will enter the building unprotected by a sprinkler once the fire reaches a point firefighters call flashover - a point at which everything in the room ignites.

Songer said the demonstration is a community effort to educate the public on the effective protection a residential fire sprinkler system can provide to any home.

This years nationwide theme for Fire Prevention Week is "Have Two Ways Out" and focuses on the importance of a fire escape plan for all. The open house will be at 212 East Works St. in downtown Sheridan.